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Doctor says I need a c-pap machine

Melensdad

Jerk in a Hawaiian Shirt & SNOWCAT Moderator
Staff member
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Did all the tests, apparently I have severe sleep apnea.

Stop breathing 49 times an hour? Or so they tell me. Picked up a machine today. I can tell this will be an adjustment trying to fall asleep with a tornado blowing air in my face and a darth vadar mask on my head.
 

Snowtrac Nome

member formerly known as dds
GOLD Site Supporter
a buddy of mine about the same age as you got the word earlier this year. since he has got the thing he had the same complaints about how all those hoses are going to get tangled up when he sleeps. what he found out is he no longer tosses and turns he also wakes up ready to kick ass on the world now. to say the least he loves it
 

bczoom

Super Moderator
Staff member
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That sucks. I'd really struggle to get used to that. Heck, I have a hard time with the mouth guard thingy they gave me so I don't use it...
 

muleman

Gone But Not Forgotten
GOLD Site Supporter
I had a hard time with an oxygen mask so went to a canula. Still wound up with hose twisted and wrapped around me. Then needed a dang Dr. order to send it back.:hammer::hammer:
 

FrancSevin

Proudly Deplorable
GOLD Site Supporter
C-Pack is a hard way to get any sleep. Given the amount of sleeplessnes my brother endured, I have to wonder what the unit does to improve your life.
There are better methods including an alarm system that wakes you if you stop breathing.

Depending on the cause, there are commonly available drugs. Advair solved my issues. But it cost over $325.00 a month.
 

REDDOGTWO

Unemployed Veg. Peddler
SUPER Site Supporter
I used to have it also where I was not breathing properly at night. I would get poked in the ribs after I did not breath once to about five of hers. I am now cured without the use of a machine. I no longer snore or miss a breath at night unless I lay on my back and then only occasionally do I snore but still do not miss a breath.

You may think that I am nuts but I went to a native American medicine man in Wisconsin for a healing on some more serious problems and now sleep normally at night or so I am told as I am not awake to check it out. I should know the results of the more serious problems in a week or two and will let you know the results, good or bad. I do believe that the results are good the way that I felt for the last six weeks.

You will probably say that the medicine man is just a bunch of malarkey but you have to believe. He says that he does not actually do the healing but is a conduit for the creator.

A true medicine man will not tell you how much you have to pay but will leave it up to your desecration. If it all works out he will be receiving a nice check from me in addition to what we left in the jar when we were there. Being able to sleep well at night was just an additional benefit of the healing.
 

luvs

'lil yinzer~
GOLD Site Supporter
i hear u- got a machine dripping nourishment into my stomach hour after hour. is kinda loud, & gets loud when its tubing gets occluded. & so on. programming/ordering stuff/this/that gets :glare:. keeps u well, though.
 

Dargo

Like a bad penny...
GOLD Site Supporter
Damn! If I stopped breathing at night Mrs. Dargo would immediately jump on me with a pillow covering my face pressing down with her entire 130 pounds trying to make sure I never began breathing again. :sad:

Hopefully it helps you. I've had terrible insomnia ever since I became self employed a couple decades ago. I'm beginning to think being awake most times at night is the only reason I'm still around...
 

Big Dog

Large Member
Staff member
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The C-PAP changed my life. After the rest u get using one you'll never notice the hose.

I used to be able to sleep anywhere and never got rest. I actually fell asleep at red lights with my foot on the brake. Now it's 7 hours of sleep each night and ready for the world in the morning. When I go to bed flat on my back and put my mask on I'm not awake 2 minutes after and barely move until 5AM every morning. Give it a week and you won't ever sleep well again without it!
 

Melensdad

Jerk in a Hawaiian Shirt & SNOWCAT Moderator
Staff member
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Well I've got several friends who swear the C-Pap is the greatest thing to ever happen to them, all got used to it in a couple of weeks and now sleep like babies.

And then there is my friend Dale, he just can't get used to it and is a physical wreck in several other ways, ends up on the couch most nights, needs the machine but it just does not seem to agree with him, nor him with it.

I am hoping that it works great for me, I'm hoping that I adjust to it fairly easily and quickly. Its hell to be constantly tired all day. Probably crabby too???
 

tommu56

Bronze Member
GOLD Site Supporter
Well it is like this besides my wife my CPAP is my best friend!

I use a full face mask (mouth breather) and no ramp up and 14 what ever pressure.

I sleep like a rock now.
I feel refershed and not falling asleep at the drop of a hat. I even fell asleep driving:shock: once a rude awaking that prompted sleep study.

The hose issue took me a couple nights to work through but it wasn't hard.

I read the card every month or so with this software
http://sourceforge.net/projects/sleepyhead/ and amazed at what it shows you I suggest you look at your patterns with it and use that to find your best fit and function.

http://sourceforge.net/apps/mediawiki/sleepyhead/index.php?title=SleepyHead_Users_Guide

800px-DailyView.png


[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AuAnzBVWYD4"]Download SleepyHead Free Software to Monitor and Interpret Sleep Data PAP Therapy Free CPAP Advice - YouTube[/ame]

You have to have a positive attitude going in or you will never get use to it.
tom
 
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tommu56

Bronze Member
GOLD Site Supporter
The only problem I have with my machine (Resmed S9) it wont run on 12v with out a big honking adapter and it sucks juice down bad.
On motor cycle camping trips I have to find power to run it

A friend has one that runs directly on 12v and hooks up to his bike and hasn't had a dead battery yet and can camp were ever he wants.

Tom
 

Melensdad

Jerk in a Hawaiian Shirt & SNOWCAT Moderator
Staff member
GOLD Site Supporter
Well I think I can get used to this thing!

Went to bed about 10:30, slept until about 1am and took it off. Took the dog outside, returned to bed about 2am and put it back on. Slept again until 5:15am when I woke up having a dream that something was on my face smothering me (think ALIEN movie)!

But it wasn't bad.

Two times it woke me up when I was snoring/starting to snore. It was blowing like a tornado into my mask, probably because I was already snoring. Not sure what woke me, the snoring or the "gentle breeze" but I suspect it was the wind gust hitting me in the face that woke me both times.

I'm NOT saying that I am feeling refreshed and wide awake. But it was not nearly as hard to get (sort of) used to as I figured it would be. I'm optimistic.
 

tommu56

Bronze Member
GOLD Site Supporter
The wind gust was probably a mask leak it gets noisy and will wake me too. If you get to dreaming you know it's working good I've had some livid dreams since being on it that means you are getting some quality sleep.

fat fingered on a droid
 

Melensdad

Jerk in a Hawaiian Shirt & SNOWCAT Moderator
Staff member
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Well it turns out that I am noticing several curious things with my c pap machine.

First, my wife actually misses my snoring!

Second, my wife is NOT sleeping well and is getting very little rest.

Third, I've had dreams of an alien clamped onto my head attacking my face.

I wake up 2 to 3 times each night to adjust the mask, go to the bathroom, etc. But even though I am getting up, I am MORE RESTED during the day than I've been in a very long time. I am NOT yawning all day like I used to. I don't NEED a 'triple shot' Starbucks to make the 7 mile drive home from the Fencing Club.

Near as I can tell, without the mask I get a MISERABLE night of 'sleep' where my body gets no actual rest because I'm not falling into a deep restorative sleep.

Near as I can also tell, with the mask I get a very good rest with a restorative sleep, but I do find the mask waking me up a couple times each night. Despite the fact that I don't sleep through the night, I am still far better rested. So overall I'd have to say my experience with the C Pap is a positive/very positive one. With time I hope that I actually can sleep through an entire night, more often than not, while wearing it. I've only had it one week and I can already see positive results. I'm hoping that I get more used to having the alien attacking my head as time goes on.
 

XeVfTEUtaAqJHTqq

Master of Distraction
Staff member
SUPER Site Supporter
I think you can "tune" the machines. Different masks and machines might work better for you.
 

tommu56

Bronze Member
GOLD Site Supporter
Just keep with it you will sleep longer.
I sleep a good 4 hrs. At a shot the main thing about waking up to go is I have to moderate my drinking of any thing after 8.

fat fingered on a droid
 

Melensdad

Jerk in a Hawaiian Shirt & SNOWCAT Moderator
Staff member
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I think you can "tune" the machines. Different masks and machines might work better for you.
Mine is one of the advanced auto-adjusting machines. The more I use it the more it will learn to adapt to my needs.



Just keep with it you will sleep longer. . .
That is what I think will happen. I've only had it 7 nights. From what most people I've talked to tell me, it typically takes about a month, sometimes longer, to really get comfortable with the machines/masks. Most guys I know who have them love them (now). One guy I know absolutely hates his machine and mask and another guy I know gave up a decade ago and never tried again.

As I said, my experience is mostly positive.
 

Melensdad

Jerk in a Hawaiian Shirt & SNOWCAT Moderator
Staff member
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NOTE TO SELF: do not drool into your c-pap mask and then roll over onto your other side :doh:
 

tommu56

Bronze Member
GOLD Site Supporter
NOTE TO SELF: do not drool into your c-pap mask and then roll over onto your other side :doh:
:Dbeen there done that.
The other thing I did was washed mask in vinegar and didn't rinse it thoroughly enough it felt like I was eating dill pickles all night.
:banghead:

fat fingered on a droid
 

Melensdad

Jerk in a Hawaiian Shirt & SNOWCAT Moderator
Staff member
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Having a reoccurring issue . . . what do I do?

The more I get used to the Cpap, the more frequently I seem to have an issue that really bothers me. It is now waking me up almost 1 time each night.

The problem is that I wake up gasping for air and the mask is not supplying enough air to me. Or at least that is what it feels like. I'm pretty sure that I am getting enough air, but it feels like I'm being suffocated. Consequently I strip the mask off and wake up in a panic. I strip the mask off and calm down.

Then I tend to fall back to sleep with the mask off and sleep for a few more hours.

My Cpap is a Philips Respironics System One Remstar AUTO A-Flex. It is an automatically adjusting unit, I cannot increase the airflow manually. It is (apparently) designed to "learn" my breathing patterns and adjust the air-flow to my mask as desired. I called Apria Healthcare, the firm that supplied me with my Cpap and gave me the initial training, they said the doctor would have to reprogram it. The doctor doesn't want to do anything until he sees me in 4 weeks because he wants me to get used to the machine.

So my question is: Is my 'gasping for air' problem part of a dream?

Or is it really happening and I am really gasping for air?
 

Melensdad

Jerk in a Hawaiian Shirt & SNOWCAT Moderator
Staff member
GOLD Site Supporter
Having a reoccurring issue . . . what do I do?

The more I get used to the Cpap, the more frequently I seem to have an issue that really bothers me. It is now waking me up almost 1 time each night.

The problem is that I wake up gasping for air and the mask is not supplying enough air to me. Or at least that is what it feels like. I'm pretty sure that I am getting enough air, but it feels like I'm being suffocated. Consequently I strip the mask off and wake up in a panic. I strip the mask off and calm down.

Then I tend to fall back to sleep with the mask off and sleep for a few more hours.

My Cpap is a Philips Respironics System One Remstar AUTO A-Flex. It is an automatically adjusting unit, I cannot increase the airflow manually. It is (apparently) designed to "learn" my breathing patterns and adjust the air-flow to my mask as desired. I called Apria Healthcare, the firm that supplied me with my Cpap and gave me the initial training, they said the doctor would have to reprogram it. The doctor doesn't want to do anything until he sees me in 4 weeks because he wants me to get used to the machine.

So my question is: Is my 'gasping for air' problem part of a dream?

Or is it really happening and I am really gasping for air?
UPDATE:

Just out of dumb luck I happened to get a call from my sleep doctor's office today about an appointment, so while I had them on the phone I asked about this "gasping for air" problem.

They scheduled me in for an appointment tomorrow morning and asked me to bring my Cpap machine in with me so they can read the card and possibly reprogram the machine to suit my needs better.
 

Trakternut

Active member
Have you checked your filter? I mean the one what filters the incoming air. If it's partially plugged, you'll have problems. Been there, done that.
 

Melensdad

Jerk in a Hawaiian Shirt & SNOWCAT Moderator
Staff member
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I didn't think about the filter because its a brand new machine and the gasping problem is not a constant problem.

I ended up taking it to the doctor's office, they downloaded the card from the machine and they even showed me where I was only getting about 4 hours of sleep per night during the last several days where I've been complaining about waking up gasping for air.

They reprogrammed the machine and I slept like a baby last night!
 

Melensdad

Jerk in a Hawaiian Shirt & SNOWCAT Moderator
Staff member
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Several days later and I'm still sleeping very well with the reprogrammed machine.

I'm having lots of dreams, something I was not doing for the past couple of years. I suppose that means that I am getting deep enough sleep now that I am going into REM sleep and getting real rest.
 

tommu56

Bronze Member
GOLD Site Supporter
Several days later and I'm still sleeping very well with the reprogrammed machine.

I'm having lots of dreams, something I was not doing for the past couple of years. I suppose that means that I am getting deep enough sleep now that I am going into REM sleep and getting real rest.


My Dr said if I was getting dreams I was getting a very good quality of sleep!

I have been getting some odd and vivid dreams (what I can remember of them) since being off work the last mounth or so
I don't remember them being like this when I was working but I'll take the good night sleep I am getting.

tom
 

Melensdad

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I think last night was the first night that I slept all the way through the night with the mask on. 10pm to 5am.

Normally I'm up at some point, usually to take one of the dogs out. I often get about 4 to 5 hours of sleep with the mask on, then I take it off for a little while, then put it back on and fall back to sleep again.
 

Melensdad

Jerk in a Hawaiian Shirt & SNOWCAT Moderator
Staff member
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Doctor's appointment in about 2 hours. I've been sleeping through the night most nights. But I've also been feeling the NEED for coffee about lunchtime. My coffee/caffeine intake has dramatically reduced, I drink several cups, per day, but nothing like the quantity of coffee I used to drink to help me stay awake.

Prior to the CPAP my coffee intake would be a steady flow from morning through lunchtime. And I am serious about steady flow. Quite literally a cup of coffee would be with me at virtually all times throughout the morning and into early afternoon. Then I would go to Fencing practice at school, after stopping off at Starbucks. Add some acid ingestion on top of my constant yawning and that was my day.

With the CPAP I probably have reduced my coffee intake by 60-70% and generally drink it because I want it. Although by mid-afternoon I do enjoy the caffeine boost. I am NOT yawning all day. In fact I rarely yawn anymore.

I'm curious to see what the doctor says at this morning's visit after reviewing the SD Card from my machine.
 
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